Question

Consider the following scenario:

As he makes his online travel reservations, Robert is overcome with a sense of anxiety. His fear of flying fills him with dread at the thought of taking an airplane. Robert’s appraisal of flying (his interpretation of the situation) instills an irrational fear. Robert mentions his concern to a close friend who works for the airline industry. His friend shares the following information—travel by air is one of the safest modes of transportation. The drive to the airport is statistically far more dangerous than a flight. Robert’s fear decreases in light of the new information. This is an example of a cognitive process helping an individual to regulate an emotional response.

For this Discussion, consider how cognitive processes can influence regulation of emotional responses. Also consider the influence of appraisal on emotional responses. Then think about how conscious and unconscious cognitive processes influence emotion.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post a brief explanation of how cognitive processes can influence regulation of emotional responses. Then explain the influence of appraisal on emotional responses. Finally, provide one example of a conscious cognitive process and one example of an unconscious cognitive process and explain how each influence emotion.

Answer 1

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Cognitive process regulates the emotional responses in the following manner-

• By utilizing existing knowledge, cognitive process generates new knowledge thereby decreasing unnecessary apprehension or fear about something
• Cognitive process encourages application of reasoning while resolving a issue
• It helps to decrease anxiety, stress and mental confusion by acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience and the senses.

We can explain the influence of appraisal on emotional response in following manner. Our emotion derives from our appraisal of the situation at several levels. This is a simple, cause and effect model.

1. We experience something. We initially appraise it as good or bad
2. After this, we connect our reaction to the coping mechanisms or defence mechanisms that we have to work with. So something can be bad, but "we can handle it.
3. The first two levels then interact. Appraisal looks at one's resources, the resources are used on the appraisal.